ELECTRICAL STIMULATION DEVICE WITH ADDITIONAL SENSORY MODALITIES

• US 20100228304A1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ghaim, Joshua, Omer, Aliya, Furgiuele, Naomi, Kriksunov, Leo B., Robinson, Ronni
• Granted Patent: US 9,265,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/034 Flameless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0218 with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

A therapeutic apparatus comprising an electrical stimulation delivery means, and at least one secondary modality delivery means, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is in an active state during at least a portion of a refractory period of the electrical stimulation delivery means.

Claims

1. A therapeutic apparatus comprising:

an electrical stimulation delivery means, and

at least one secondary modality delivery means,

wherein the secondary modality delivery means is in an active state during at least a portion of a refractory period of the electrical stimulation delivery means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is in an active state during at least a portion of the time that the electrical stimulation delivery means is operational.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary modality delivery means provides a secondary modality treatment selected from the group consisting of vibration, thermal, light, chemical sensate, and combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller to switch from the electrical stimulation delivery means to the secondary modality delivery means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is an independent sensory cue.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary modality delivery means provides therapeutic pain relief.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is activated independently without input from a subject.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is activated by a subject.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is a vibratory modality that has a frequency between about 1 Hz and about 30 kHz and an amplitude from about 1 micron to about 3 mm as measured from peak to peak.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation delivery means includes an integrated power source and at least two electrodes.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is an electrical heating device, an electrical cooling device, or combination thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the power source delivers an electrical stimulation current greater than about 1 milliampere.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is directionally positioned in-between the at least two electrodes.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is adjacently positioned to the at least two electrodes.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is integrated into an article of clothing or footwear.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary modality delivery means provides a treatment that includes heating and vibration.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller that controls the electrical stimulation delivery means and the secondary modality delivery means.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller enables a subject to operate the apparatus remotely.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller enables a subject to operate the apparatus wirelessly.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation delivery means operates with a treatment cycle and a refractory cycle, wherein the secondary modality delivery means operates with a treatment cycle and a refractory cycle, and wherein the electrical stimulation refractory cycle overlaps with the secondary modality delivery means treatment cycle.

24. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the power source delivers an electrical stimulation current less than about 1 milliampere.

21. A method of reducing pain and/or the symptoms of other inflammatory conditions in a subject experiencing pain and/or other inflammatory conditions, comprising the steps of:

treating the subject with a therapeutic apparatus comprising

an electrical stimulation delivery means, and

at least one secondary modality delivery means,

wherein the secondary modality delivery means is in an active state during a refractory period of the electrical stimulation delivery means.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the pain and/or other inflammatory condition is selected from the group consisting of generalized local pain, chronic pain, joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, rheumatic pain, arthritis, wound treatment, osteoarthritis, and combinations thereof.

23. A method of preparing muscles for exertion and/or stretching muscles comprising the step of:

treating the subject with a therapeutic apparatus comprising

an electrical stimulation delivery means, and

at least one secondary modality delivery means,

wherein the secondary modality delivery means is in an active state during a refractory period of the electrical stimulation delivery means.